Author Topic: micro-groove or ballard? (Read 1293 times)

myronman3 · « **on:** January 31, 2005, 12:53:05 PM »

i have a marlin 1894 in 44 magnum, stainless steel. how can i tell which rifling i have?

the gun shoots 240 grain copper bullets great- 310 grain lead like turds. i am wondering if it is the rifling or maybe the bullet weight the gun doesnt like?

thoughts and comments appreciated.

VTDW · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2005, 01:20:56 PM »

myronman3,

I believe the microgroove has 12 grooves and the Ballard either 6 or 8 (not sure which). I can't tell you about the bullets as I don't have any experience with your particular model.

Dave

old geezer · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2005, 11:24:07 PM »

old geezer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2005, 11:40:57 PM »

The number of grooves for each type listed above are correct. Also, if the barrel was micro groove, it would be stamped as such on the barrel.

Kingfish · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2005, 06:49:11 AM »

I think the micro-groove is stamped on the barrel as og has said. For the 310gr lead bullets shooting bad, that has more to do with the barrel twist than anything else. I believe all the 44 caliber Marllins are still 1 in 38" and you have to push a heavy bullet out pretty fast to get it to stabilize with the 1-38. Mine has ballard rifling and I've only shot a few 300grn lead bullets in it but they did fine loaded up to max with H110.

It took some shooting to smooth out the barrel or my M94 before it started to do real well with cast bullets. I've heard shooting a bunch of jkt. bullets will do that. I just shot mine a lot with all kinds of bullets before things started to settle down and swaged or hard cast bullets wouldn't lead up the bore. I'm not sure how many grooves my ballard barrel has but I think it's about six.

Bill

myronman3 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2005, 02:46:24 PM »

thank you, gentlemen. it does not say "micro-groove" on the barrel so i will assume it is ballard rifling. i was thinking the bullet weight might be the problem. no i have a direction to investigate. again, thanks.

Mikey · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2005, 02:13:35 AM »

myronman3 - get yourself a fire-lapping kit from either Veral Smith or Beartooth Bullets and that will help you. Whether you have a 6 groove or a twelve-groove barrel doesn't matter. There is something in your barrel, either roughness or constrictions (which are common in Marlin barrels) that affects the ability of the bullets to stabalize. Once you have firelapped the barrel your accuracy will improve. HTH. Mikey.

Leadlum · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2005, 01:06:37 PM »

Thats right; I called Marlin once and thet told me that if it has micro-groove rifling it WOULD say it. So it sounds like you have Ballard rifling. How do you like that Stainless .44? That looks like a Nice rifle. I was thinking of getting one once; but I already have a 1985ss 45-70 and I probally don`t really need one. But the 45-70 is ALOT of gun. I had a 44 cowboy oct bbl and I sold it, wish I didn`t.

myronman3 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2005, 12:09:08 PM »

i love it. had some problems with jams- but found some loose screws after being advised by fellow g.b.o. members and it took care of the jams. other than that, the only thing i can say is it has a knack for hitting trees. i have fired at two deer and scored two trees instead. dont ask me how. one more time hitting a tree and i am going to declare the gun jinxed.
question about fire lapping- does shooting a bunch of copper bullets do the same thing over time?

haroldclark · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2005, 01:27:56 PM »

There is no substitute for firelapping. I have used Veral Smith's compound for many years. It works. Before you firelap, shoot a group with the load that you intend to use and then firelap. After you have fired 50 to 100 firelapping rounds, shoot another group. The proof will be in the results. Always use lead bullets for firelapping.

I firelapped a Siamese Mauser in 45-70 years ago. It would only shoot a 12" group at 200 meters. I fired the same load after firelapping 50 rounds and cleaning. It dropped to 4". Then I did load development to improve that grouping.

A month ago, one of my buddies and I firelapped his $3500 Remington Rolling Block black powder cartridge rifle in 45-70. Groups went from 4 and 5 inches to 1.25" at 100 yards.

Two weeks ago, another buddy of mine got his new replacement barrel from TC in 7mm TCU. He couldn't hit a Ram at 500 meters. We firelapped it with 54 rounds and he could hit Rams at will.

Copper jacketed bullets: You don't want to wait long enough for accuracy and waste your time. Firelapping will give you results immediately.

The only barrel I own or have owned that has not been firelapped is a 7mm BR made by David Van Horn. It shot to suit me as it is.

I used to use valve grinding compound and then along came Veral Smith of LBT. I have used his compound since I read Smith's book "Jacketed Performance with Cast Bullets" it 1988. I bought his little jar of compound and I have fireformed no less than 25 barrels with it and I still have half of it.

I wish you luck with your gun.

Harold Clark